| Author |
Message |
'75 308 GT4 (Peter)
Intermediate Member
Username: Peter
Post Number: 1622
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Friday, March 01, 2002 - 11:21 pm: | |
Neville, in my colder Canadian climate, even if I use the GT4's oil-cooler trap-door, it still takes a while to warm up the oil. I too have noticed in the past, starting-up in near 0*C temps, I have lots of "steam". Goes away in a few minutes... |
Steve Magnusson (91tr)
Member
Username: 91tr
Post Number: 554
Registered: 1-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 01, 2002 - 9:19 am: | |
Neville -- If the coolant to combustion chamber sealing checks OK, you might try blocking (quasi-airtight) the engine air inlet(s) and exhaust outlet(s) after shutoff to minimize the amount of available moist air for condensation in the exhaust tract? just a thought if it remains a mystery... |
Neville Pugh (Nevpugh68)
New member
Username: Nevpugh68
Post Number: 28
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 01, 2002 - 4:14 am: | |
Hmmm .... good points all, and I hadn't thought about the coolant "seepage".
Oil temp reading .... dunno if my gauge / sensor is off or something, but it barely moves .... only if I've been driving for 30 minutes or more will it just lift off the stop .... |
Brian stewart (Eurocardoc)
Junior Member
Username: Eurocardoc
Post Number: 181
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 8:53 pm: | |
There has been occasions where a head gasket would leak water into a cylinder as the engine cooled down ( I have only had this on Porsche 944) even a compression test would nt show a problem, but if you pull the plugs you could find some coolant in the bad cylinder. I go with Magoo that you may not run the car enough between starts, it should always run up to some oil temp reading IMHO. |
Richelson (Richelson)
Member
Username: Richelson
Post Number: 482
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 10:29 am: | |
The point is that you could have a small headgasket leak where the cylinder is slightly filling up with coolant and it is burning it off. It is probably water but it is a good idea to be sure. This can be checked by a compression test too. |
Neville Pugh (Nevpugh68)
New member
Username: Nevpugh68
Post Number: 27
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 10:23 am: | |
Magoo ..... good point, I do do this occasionally over the winter (say, running her for 30 mins or so) as I dont take her out in the really bad salty, wet, muddy weather. Over winter in the UK there's usually the odd good dry floor day to go out for a spin, but sometimes it doesn't dry for weeks on end, and I dont like leaving her without running for long. This might be a contributing factor.
Richelson ..... it's definately not blue (oil) and I'd only say it was medium thick white smoke. Erm, I'll have to try the "smell" thing and the 1 hour test next time, but I dont think it's coolant if that's what you are thinking.
Mitchel ..... wouldn't worn valves mean blue smoke, and that would disappear within seconds, rather than minutes ? The cold start valve is manual, and currently disconnected as she starts better without it (she's a real pig to start if she's been left a week or two)
Thanks all for the feedback !
Nev :-) |
magoo (Magoo)
Intermediate Member
Username: Magoo
Post Number: 2043
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 10:19 am: | |
Also Neville, If the smoke is white and not gray or blue looking and does not do it in the summer months it probably is not oil smoke. Just be sure you are not losing water out of the expansion tank which could be a headgasket leaking into the cylinders. |
magoo (Magoo)
Intermediate Member
Username: Magoo
Post Number: 2042
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 10:12 am: | |
Do you start your car a lot in the garage, doors open of course, just to circulate the fluids rather than taking it out for a run. If you are, each time you do this water vapor collects in the muffler and the next time you do it it causes steam. An on going process. |
Mitchel DeFrancis (4re308)
Member
Username: 4re308
Post Number: 430
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 10:03 am: | |
Neville, a huge cloud of smoke is not normal. I think you may have worn valve guides in there, or the cold start valve is stuck open, and is allowing WAY too much fuel in to warm the engine. Anyone? Anyone? |
Richelson (Richelson)
Member
Username: Richelson
Post Number: 480
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 9:21 am: | |
Humm. Does it have a sweet smell to it? Does it do it again say if you drive the car and then let it sit for an hour or so then start it up again? Will it happen again? Is it thick white or a hazy light blue? |
Neville Pugh (Nevpugh68)
New member
Username: Nevpugh68
Post Number: 26
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 9:18 am: | |
I was just curious coz we're not talking just a few puffs here, we're talking "whole car disappears in cloud of white" ....
Oh well, gives the neighbours something to look at :-) |
Richelson (Richelson)
Member
Username: Richelson
Post Number: 476
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 8:05 am: | |
I think it is common and isn't and issue. It is just like the drivers side exhaust isn't as power exiting the tailpipe as the passenger side exhaust. Everyone I have seen does this when cold. |
Robert Davis (H2oquick)
Junior Member
Username: H2oquick
Post Number: 82
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 8:03 am: | |
Mine steams a little also...and throws out black splotches on the ground...I was told in an earlier thread that this is normal. |
John A (Jarends)
Junior Member
Username: Jarends
Post Number: 68
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 7:05 am: | |
I ask this question some time ago concerning my 328 GTS. The starting vapor is mainly on the driver's side exhaust. Its only water vapor you don't see in the summer because the temp is higher and just like your breath, will not show. I was told its no problem and it hasn't been.
John |
Mitchel DeFrancis (4re308)
Member
Username: 4re308
Post Number: 428
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 6:58 am: | |
My car smokes a bit when first started, but its not steam, I think its fuel because it is running rich upon initial start up. Me thinks.
It stops totally after 2-3 minutes and the car runs better than new. |
Neville Pugh (Nevpugh68)
New member
Username: Nevpugh68
Post Number: 25
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 6:27 am: | |
This is more of a "just curious" post, rather than a "I've got a problem" post.
Does anyone else have a lot of steam (white smoke) come out of the exhaust when cold starting and the ambiant temperature is cold ? I do .... and I'm not just talking a little bit, I'm talking a veritable personal smoke screen !
It disappears as soon as the engine is warm, and doesn't do it when it's summer at all, but when it's cold (say sub 5deg C) it's embarrassing for the first few minutes ! She's not losing or buring any water and she runs great, so I know it's not a big problem, or anything that needs the attention of a mechanic
Just wondered if anyone else's 308 did this ? |